Deputy charged with oppression over traffic stop

Deputy is indicted on charges of oppressionHe is accused of using position to collect a debt from a motorist in lieu of jail time

ROSANNA RUIZ, Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, July 21, 2005

A Harris County Sheriff's deputy, no-billed after two shootings last year, has been charged with official oppression, accused of using his position to collect a $400 debt from a motorist during a traffic stop.

Deputy William Dale Wilkinson was indicted Monday on the misdemeanor charge in connection with a May 3 stop on U.S. 90 in Crosby, according to court records.

The 33-year-old Wilkinson was released from custody after posting a $1,000 bond Tuesday, records show. He could not be reached for comment.

At Least Two Injured in Another Explosion in Austin, Authorities SayTime

9 g block satFox 26 Houston

9 saturdayFox 26 Houston

930 sundayFox 26 Houston

black pantherFox 26 Houston

530 part 2Fox 26 Houston

Austin, Texas Explosion Injures TwoAssociated Press

a blockFox 26 Houston

9 p.m. Mar. 18 FOXRAD ForecastFox 26 Houston

Two injured following explosion in southwest AustinFox 26 Houston

RodeoHouston 2018 Final ShowSteve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

"He has cooperated in the internal affairs investigation. He has passed two polygraphs in regard to the incident and how it unfolded," Ligon said.

A Harris County Sheriff's Department spokesman did not respond to several calls for comment.

Wilkinson is accused of threatening to arrest the motorist, Robert Keith LaFrance, on an outstanding theft warrant in connection with a stolen welding machine. According to the indictment, no such warrant existed.

Wilkinson, the indictment states, told LaFrance he had failed to pay the welding machine's owner, Jesse Balinski, for the machine. He is accused of offering to collect the $400 for the equipment in lieu of taking the driver to jail.

LaFrance paid Wilkinson to avoid going to jail, and the deputy delivered the money to Balinski, investigators said. LaFrance later told authorities he had returned the welding machine in 2003.

Ligon said Wilkinson is related to Balinski and offered to carry the money to him but didn't use his law enforcement position to intimidate LaFrance.

"The officer is not denying the conduct. He's denying the (criminal) intent," Ligon said.

Last year, Wilkinson fatally shot Hiji Eugene Harrison, 25, during a May 16 traffic stop in the 7200 block of South Lake Houston Parkway. Sheriff's detectives said Harrison, of the 5400 block of Rand, seemed "overly nervous." Wilkinson said he shot Harrison after the man tried to take his gun. Grand jurors declined to indict him.

Harrison was the second person Wilkinson shot within eight days. On May 8, 2004, he shot Robert Barkley three times after the man allegedly tried to run over him in the parking lot of Deerbrook Mall. A grand jury no-billed Wilkinson.